The remarkable Shirley Westeinde, president of Westeinde Properties, has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Ottawa’s business community, been appointed and served for 11 years as an honorary colonel with the Canadian Armed Forces, and received the Order of Canada.
The tenacious trailblazer was the first female board chair of BOMA Ottawa, the Canadian Construction Association and the Ottawa Economic Development Corp. (now Invest Ottawa). She chaired the Mayor’s Task Force on Affordable Housing and led the board of the research arm of the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre. She continues to serve on multiple boards in the city.
In this instalment of My Ottawa, Westeinde, who turned 80 in 2021, talks about her love of walking everywhere in Ottawa and enjoying good food, wine and music along the way.
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What area of the city/region do you live in?
I live downtown with a beautiful view of the Parliament Buildings and LeBreton Flats.
What type of home do you have (condo, house, etc.)?
Condo.
What type of pet do you have?
I have none now. I have had three dogs and two cats over the years. I now have numerous granddogs.
What type of car do you drive?
Mercedes-Benz convertible.
What’s your favourite part of town?
Downtown.
What is your favourite place to eat in Ottawa?
I enjoy eating at the Rideau Club, but we have so many good restaurants in Ottawa.
What is your favourite activity in Ottawa?
Walking.
What’s your hobby?
I don’t really have one, but constantly learning, including French.
What’s your favourite local charity or cause?
I am on the boards of Operation Come Home and OrKidstra, which both support the growth, safety and creativity of young people. The Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre is also a much-needed facility. I believe addiction is a huge challenge to young people and to the healthy growth of Ottawa.
What’s your favourite festival?
Bluesfest. I can hear and see it from my balcony.
What’s your favourite performance or attraction at the National Arts Centre?
I enjoy Broadway musicals, but also the NAC symphony orchestra. We are so fortunate to have such a huge choice of entertainment provided by the NAC.
Where do you get your hair cut?
Salon 130.
What’s your favourite weekend outing to do with family or friends?
There are sooo many options, depending on the season, but it will usually include some physical activity with good food and wine.
What Ottawa personality, past or present, do you admire?
A person who was a wonderful mentor to me was Jean Pigott. She was an MP and the first female chair of the National Capital Commission. She was very creative and intuitive and had a unique way of working with men in what was a man’s world back then.
If you took a staycation in Ottawa, what would you do?
I feel like I am staycationing every day. I walk to the NAC, the Market, the Shaw Centre and the various museums and art galleries. I also use the LRT a lot.
What’s your favourite business event or conference in Ottawa?
I’ve always been an economic development junkie, so I enjoy the City Building Summit and the Ottawa Real Estate Forum.
What’s your favourite meeting or convention venue?
I always enjoy going to events at the Shaw Centre, particularly the fourth floor.
What’s your favourite thing to do in Ottawa to pamper yourself?
I love going to the Holtz Spa. It is in a great location in the Market.
What local business or attraction do you think is one of Ottawa’s best-kept secrets?
I think the Zibi site is a beautiful spot to visit and to view the Chaudiere Falls from five different locations. There are also Indigenous gardens, the bike trails are great, and you can zipline from one province to the other with a magnificent view. Hopefully there will be more retail and restaurants opening up in 2024.
What’s your favourite thing about Ottawa?
The people, particularly those in the business and charitable world. It is a wonderful city to live, work and play.
